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Alumni Update

Austin Cox on his 11.2 no-hit innings to begin his career: "It's humbling. It's what you dream of when you're a kid. But really the credit has to go to the defense of the catchers. ... Credit to the catchers for learning me as quick as they did." #Royals pic.twitter.com/GXTrCBvU2z
— Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) June 23, 2023

Austin Cox sets MLB record

The last time a Major-League pitcher went so long without giving up a hit in his debut was 1961 (start of the modern/expansion era).

The father (Stephen) of the Central Georgian who surpassed that was almost a decade from being born.

FPD grad and former Mercer standout Austin Cox went 39 straight batters before giving up a hit since first being called up in May.

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The streak ended in the fifth inning of Kansas City’s 6-5 win Thursday over the MLB-leading Tampa Bay Rays.

In effect, Cox has thrown a piecemeal no-hitter at the start of his Major-League career, going 11.2 innings without a hit.

Cox’s family made the trip south for the series, the closest the Royals have been to Macon since Cox was promoted.

He threw 3.2 innings on Thursday, his high so far in the bigs, and struck out four, another high. In 12.1 innings in the majors, he has 13 strikeouts and only four walks, and has thrown 102 strikes on 190 pitches.

That’s a strike 63.75 percent of the time. By comparison, albeit in 72 more innings, Atlanta’s Spencer Strider is throwing strikes 68.7 percent of the time, and the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani 63.9 percent.

Around/About Central Georgia

Henley gets hot in second round

When Russell Henley went to bed Thursday night, his score after a round at the Travelers put his weekend plans in jeopardy.

Things sure changed a day later.

The consistency Henley didn’t have on Thursday showed up on Friday with a round that pushed him up nearly 40 spots on the leaderboard after two rounds in Connecticut.

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He had three birdies and eight pars through 11, then blew past his lone bogey of the day with three birdies on the next four holes for a 5-under 65 for the day, and a two-round total of 134, 6-under, good for a tie for 32nd with Matt Fitzpatrick and Zach Johnson, among others.

The mid-afternoon cut line was a mighty respectable 3 under and settled at 4 under, ending the weekend for Collin Morikawa, Seamus Power, Max Homa, Kurt Kitayama, top-ranked Jon Rahm, and Tommy Fleetwood, among those sent home at 2 under.

Henley drilled a 53-footer for a birdie on par-4 No. 14, and a 46-footer for a birdie on par-3 No. 16.

His other birdie putts: 16 feet, 11, 6’4”, and 4’3”. He was in bunkers on his first two shots on 12, the 414-yard hole he bogeyed, his 20-foot par try missing by a half foot.

He tees off at 11:10 a.m. on Saturday with Michael Kim and Fitzpatrick.

Macon splits with Forest City

Forest City held off late rallies to beat Macon 10-9, but a late rally by Macon held up in a 7-5 nightcap win at Luther Williams Field.

Connor Hill and Mario Minzey each had two-hit games in the opener. Hill and Antonio Brown driving in two runs.

Forest City led 9-0 after four, and Macon scored five in the seventh and three in the ninth to make it a game.

The Owls put up five in the fifth for a 5-2 lead, but Macon scored one in the sixth and four in the top of the seventh to win the second game.

Macon got two-hit games from Matthew Delay Jr., Elijah Frank, Connor Hicks, and Jett Lovett.

Macon hosts Boone on Saturday.

Around/About Georgia

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Rookie gets Reds first cycle since 1989, in his 15th game

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